Vans recently sent me down to NY to meet up and check out the September 10th Supply and Demand show - featuring works and a collaborative installation by Chris Yormick, Rich Jacobs, Russ Pope and Jay Howell - at the House of Vans.

I was super excited to check out New York (my first time) as well as see what these creative dudes were up too! This unique show in a 20,000 square foot warehouse also featured food trucks, Juxtapoz magazines, a DJ, a gallery space, and an upstair bowl to skate. My head finally stopped reeling this week. Here's some photos from the trip.

I arrived to NYC and checked into this sweet hotel for two nights. Since it was September 11th weekend as well as Fashion week, there was definitely tons of activity and police all around. After squeezing between two SWAT dudes, I made it to my room. Here's the view I had - check out those roof ramps.

After I got settled, I met up with Jay and Russ at a bar in Manhattan. They'd be installing pretty much non-stop for about a week, so I'm sure they could use a drink.

Jay's buddy Jim Dirschberger (of eightyfourfilms) was also in tow for the ride and staying with those dudes. Super rad guy.

Nice, uplifting graffiti.

We checked out a bunch of bars, not sure where we are at this point, but here is everyone chilling.

Jay's buddy taking a shot for the team.

More Jay buddies. Those dudes know how to rage.

Late night eating at some place that slips my mind. I just remember not to lose my ticket or else they'd get pissed. I now have a collection of Jay shoving food in his mouth photos. Roast beef.

This place ruled. They had a celebrity wall of photographs with the owner all over. I just remember the owner's weird smile in every picture, almost like if he were photoshopped.

Jay deemed this the "gay pickle moment".

The next day I headed down to Greenpoint to the House of Vans, a 20,000 square foot warehouse/skatepark/gallery/venue to check out what they've been painting and stuff. They were finishing up pieces and touching up some murals. I happened to get there while Rich Jacobs and Russ Pope were giving a group of illustration / art students a little tour and talk.

I was pretty glad I arrived during Rich's talk to the students because he busted out some awesome original artwork. Here's the deck design and drawing for a Krooked board. They did an amazing job on printing that. Looks rad.

A view of the installation and work they've been doing at the House of Vans.

Don't be a "critical bro" haha. There were tons of funny little art treasures on trash, paper, and the likes.

Artist Chris Yormick and Russ Pope forming a plan of attack.

Artist Chris Yormick finishing one of his characters on the ramp.

Artist Rich Jacobs working on this wood slab with some spray paint.

Craft table. The artists all used and shared a bunch of paints, colors, and tools.

Chris scaling the ramp to paste up some old book pages as well as some old player piano sheets.

Artist Chris Yormick.

Lots more work before the opening on Saturday, September 10th.

From what I was told, the guys started out painting pretty organically - starting various characters here and there - with another artist following up and adding to their creation. Utilizing the same paints and material as well help to unify the final installation.

DJ Jay Howell.

Jay penning in the most important parts first. Steady, steady . . . no one likes a wiggly boobie.

Here's Russ Pope replacing some of Jay's newly ordered jeans (Jay had a massive crotch blowout which he showed me at the bar by placing a beer bottle in it.) with some trash and a coffee cup.

Jay excitedly opens his package as Russ basks in the glory of his trickery, which resulted in some box throwing.

and then back to installing

A successfully taken Jay jumping photo. We tried this last time in Portland with poor results.

Artist Chris Yormick and Rich Jacobs.

Out back of the House of Vans is this really sick school stairs and rail section. It's like a fake school front.

Jay escapes death by forklift.

Cruise by - heads up Russ.

After all the ramps were pretty much done, they started to clean and mop the floors. Time for a lunch break.

Josh and Jim going the right way. Jay going the wrong way.

YES!

Hi, we'd like to place a sandwich order for 10 folks.

Jay devouring sub sandwich.

Jay showing Russ his crotch blow out. He was about ready to hop into those new jeans.

After lunch, the fellows moved onto the gallery portion of the show. They not only had the artwork installation in the main warehouse, but original works for sale in the front space.

With most of the gallery installation done, Jay, Jim and I headed for a little walk around Greenpoint. We wanted to take a stroll down by the water. You know, it's romantic.

Greenpoint was a pretty sweet area. Lots of graffiti everywhere, but overall pretty clean streets and nice folks. Jay was digging on this artist's use of gold spray paint.

By far the best graffiti we found in Brooklyn. Kids, don't try this home.

Some beautiful scenery.

Jay in NYC.

We headed back, and the crew was setting up for the big show. Couches and cushions, bars, and magazines all getting set up.

I headed outside to see what was going on. . . and I found Jay eating and chilling in the sun.

View from the skatebowl of the place all cleaned up. They even got off duty NYC cops to be the guards of the evening just in case shit got crazy.

Free tacos all night - and pretty much got the last one of the evening.

There was a private skate session about to start around 6 pm before the show . . . I cruised up and found just a few dudes skating, so went to search out the rest of the guys.

I found all the folks in the green room to Jay making some Tropical Fantasies - aka rum and tropical fantasy coconut soda. We had ventured out to get some, but should have figured that they'd be pre-celebrating a bit.

Dirschberger's reaction to Jay's creation is pretty rad.

Russ approves and has two!

After taking the edge off, I head up to see if the skate session is going in the bowl

Moments before the opening - here's the silk screened wood title wall for Supply and Demand.

Okay - full view of the collaborative installation by Chris Yormick, Rich Jacobs, Russ Pope and Jay Howell.

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